Sometimes I wonder if the pain of leaving outweighs the joy of visiting. I know the answer will be different tomorrow but leaving just breaks my heart! Usually I’m teary eyed til about Tulsa but today, the tears won’t stop. All the way through Oklahoma City . . the tears have plagued me in the hotel room! They just won’t stop. My clothes smell like Nicole’s laundry detergent. There are crumbs in the back seat from Addie’s car seat. Chad had a coat that needs the sleeves shortened so I brought that back with me. Everywhere I look, I see signs of “them” but “they” aren’t with me. I know I’m blessed . . there are families who will never get to see their loved ones again. I will . . in three or four months I’ll be back to see them but today, that seems like forever.
OK . . thanks for listening to me whine. Part of the problem (maybe) is that I’m so tired. I can never sleep before a trip and last night I was still awake at 3 a.m. and then was up about 6:30 a.m. I’ll sleep like a rock tonight . . air conditioner is going full blast in the room . . and tomorrow I’ll wake up rested. The world will be a happy place again . . I hope.
When I got almost to Tulsa, I put on my big girl undies and took the Creek Nation Turnpike. I so dislike driving through Tulsa but there’s a bridge that scares the heck out of me on the Creek Nation Turnpike. Going, I went through Tulsa . . construction and crazy traffic. Today I said . . no . . and took the Creek Nation and survived the bridge. About half the time I take the Creek Nation and about half the time I go through town, so because I made it across the bridge today doesn’t mean I will make it across it next time. Thank goodness, the traffic through Oklahoma City wasn’t terrible. It was worse when I was passing through last week.
The rest of the trip tomorrow will be a piece of cake as far as traffic but oh, my . . that trip from Wichita Falls to Brownwood . . on those desolate back roads across Texas is so darned boring. About halfway from Wichita to home, every time, I think “I’m calling Vince and telling him I can’t do it!” There’s nothing to see, no place to stop . . just roads, fields, oil wells, cows and cactus. Living in the middle of Texas means that any time you leave the state, you have a heck of a lot of Texas to cross!
Chocolate Boot
By 4 p.m., I was in the hotel, had my shower, had consumed a chocolate boot that the guy at the front desk gave me. I think he felt bad because I had mascara all down my face from crying! 🙁
I’m not even going out for dinner. Here’s what I’m having:
Dinner
Yep, sardines (which I love), crackers and an orange. It’s time to get back on the diet . . after a bit of a respite, which included donuts yesterday!
The rest of the night will be spent knitting on Nicole’s sweater.
Sherry in Carrollton.TX says
Judy, Have you ever heard, “The sun has rize, the sun has set, and here we is, in Texas yet!”
Karen says
I feel for you I do – I am 14 hours from my youngest daughter and her family – she has my grandchildren – the daughter near me doesn’t want any! I only see them about once or twice a year – mine are older than yours though and my daughter has not lived close to home for going on 14 years now – I used to be very teary eyed when I left and off and on for hours – then I guess I just got used to it, we text a lot and on the computer a lot but it isn’t the same. When she lived in Wichita Falls TX she was “only” six hours from me and I would drive there every 3 months – that drive across OK drove me crazy! Nothing to look at – I-40 is horrible in that area.
Beth says
Glad I’m not the only one who can’t leave the kids and grandkids without crying even tho I see them several times a year. It makes it better when you know you aren’t the only one 🙂
Donna Williams says
Not only do I know exactly how you feel about the family stuff, I am petrified going through Tulsa anymore – I too hate that blasted bridge, and going through all the construction frightens me no end. Seems there is nowhere to go if you need to get out of someone’s way. Glad you made it through all right. Safe travels home.
Holly Garemore says
I have a daughter right outside Seattle, one in Portland OR, and one here in NJ who lived in NC for 2 years. Leaving is so hard! I was in WA for the birth of my granddaughter last July, and stayed til she was 2 weeks old. We all cried when I left! I went back at Chrsitmas, and they were just here, and we cry every time. It takes a day or so to get back to my routine, and then I’m OK.
I wish I could tell you it gets easier, but it doesn’t.
Ann Ward says
Judy, and other grandmas. We lived in AZ and our 3 grandkids were in PA. We sold everything and moved from 3700 sq ft to 1300, we downsized to be near grandkids and it’s been worth every minute.
Sherrill says
That is sad and guess that’s how my poor parents felt for years. They were in OKC, two kids with g/kids in CA, one kid w/ grandkids in Ohio and we were in VA!! So they had NOBODY close. They were SO happy when we moved to TX that they put their house on the market and moved down here. But then my dad died 3 wks after moving down here 🙁
Sheryl says
I used to eat sardines with my Dad but I can’t do it anymore. The crackers look yummy. I might have to look for some to try. Have a safe trip for the last leg home.
Judy says
I understand what you are going thru. My son, daughter in law, and grand baby live in Brooklyn and I live in Cincinnati. I found a sign at Hobby Lobby that sums it up perfectly. “You are my favorite hello and my hardest goodbye”.
Mary C in WA says
I do know how you feel. I have one grandson who because of his parents divorce, I haven’t seen since he was 3 weeks old. Sorry the bridges and desolate roads don’t make your tirps easy. Drive safe!
Diana says
((((((((((Judy))))))))))))))) I feel your pain.. when I leave my granddaughters (and their parents) in UT. They are getting so big (17,13 and 7).
Hope you took LOTS of pictures that you can put on quilts ! That is what I do .. and they are so surprised at Christmas time when they get their picture quilts of what we do during the year ….
Toni in Tn says
I know how you feel. My youngest grandchild is now sixteen and I feel like I have lost their entire childhood. The hardest part is when they get into their teens and don’t really want to be around you anymore. Like we are too close to the grave and it might be catching!!
Ann Ward says
Toni, even at 10 our granddaughter has friends she wants to be with. It goes way too quickly. Grap that time while you can.
Theresa says
Drive safe! When will you be driving through my fair town of Wichita Falls? You are right about it being a boring drive. Just about any direction from WF is boring for a few hours, even longer if you’re driving west.